Positivity rates, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 are beginning to go down in Los Angeles county after rapid increases that followed reopening. Although the county is having difficulty receiving the numbers of positive cases and deaths from the state for almost two weeks, the Health Department said it thinks the overall trends stand, even if the numbers increase across the board.

After swelling throughout the month of July, the seven-day positivity rate is not as low as it was mid-May before easing of stay-at-home orders, officials said, but the average daily number of deaths have decreased from about 44 per day to 30.

In the last 24 hours, the Department of Public Health reported on Monday 1,185 new cases and 19 deaths. Statistics for the first days of the week are usually low, however, due to lack of weekend reporting; there is also a current issue with a state processing backlog.

Alhambra finished its second round of COVID-19 testing this month. To date there are 15,197 Alhambra residents’ tests reported to the county – 1,057 positive cases – in the city of about 87,000 people. The county’s Locations and Demographics page also reports 20 deaths; other San Gabriel Valley cities’ data can be found there as well.

County health officials said they were cautiously optimistic, still warning against high-risk activities like gatherings, parties and in-person religious services.

Public health director Barbara Ferrer said there is “enormous potential” to infect others, for example, indoors at a party where someone could be socializing, eating or drinking – possibly not wearing a mask – with others who are doing the same, and have no idea they are spreading the disease.

“Please, we ask that you remember what’s at stake. At this point in our recovery journey it’s simply not worth the risk,” Ferrer said.

For detailed cumulative or daily testing data by date, visit the COVID-19 Surveillance Dashboard.

For all of the reporting from the Alhambra Source, go to our Stay Healthy page.